Aldi WA managing director Viktor Jakupec said the acquisition of 11 specialty shops and IGA off Stirling Highway was an "exciting step forward" in its target to open 20 stores in WA between June and December 2016.
Nedlands Mayor Max Hipkins said the sale prompted an "urgent" recommendation to start future planning for the shopping centre and its surrounds at Council this month.
Woolworths' second application to rezone the surrounding Captain Stirling site was rejected at a City of Nedlands meeting on December 16.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW"The same difficulties of access (why we rejected the Woolworths application) apply to the Aldi site," Mr Hipkins said.
"Development is inevitably going to happen, so this sale has forced our hand in ensuring the whole area is appropriately planned.
"It has been suggested that the State Government could overrule us in a similar way as they did to Subiaco with 16 storeys at Pavilion Markets. We have that at the back of our minds " the ultimate objective is to remain in control."
Mr Hipkins said the council and community campaign group Nedsavers would work together to achieve a strong local planning strategy.
Nedsavers co-ordinator Barry Nunn said he wanted to see Aldi build a modest development that advanced the village hub.
"The overriding thing is that we can't have an immense scale that will overwhelm local traffic," Mr Nunn said.
Nedlands will make the final decision on its planning strategy for the Captain Stirling site at a meeting next week.